[trikes] DELTA VS TADPOLE for speed

[Ian Sims]

I have designed and ridden both, plus I've ridden fair number of the
different designs and makes.

I think it is really like asking which is faster, the orange or the apple.

There are a number of things which govern the speed of a trike,
roughly in this order.

1. Fitness of the rider.
2. Aerodynamics (drag co-efficient x frontal area)
3. Weight
4. Rolling resistance (mainly tyre design and performance)
5. Ease of control.
6. Rider comfort.
7. Mechanical efficiency.

Of course it will depend on what order of magnitude we are looking at
in the range of variables, but this is an indication of the range of each
variable, and its effect on performance that I have noticed....

The main point is that the layout is not the main feature of the trike.

Regards, Ian

Ian Sims, Director
Greenspeed Pty., Ltd.,
69 Mountain Gate Drive,
Ferntree Gully VIC 3156
AUSTRALIA
Phone +61 3 9758 5541 Fax +61 3 9752 4115
Email ian at greenspeed.com.au
Web www.greenspeed.com.au




Message: 1
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:29:45 -0400
From: <mgta4 at aol.com>
Subject: [trikes] DELTA VS TADPOLE for speed
To: <trikes at bikelist.org>
Message-ID: <8CBB99221CBFD06-1650-310 at WEBMAIL-DZ09.sysops.aol.com>
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Does anyone have any experience riding both trikes? Is there a difference in speed that could be noticed?? 
Would one be much faster for touring then the other??

Thanks Fran